« On a Lighter Note... | Main | Why I Shouldn't Do Things Around The House »

May 06, 2005

Jonathon Livingston Seagull...

...doesn't seem so cute now, does he?

Chlamydia outbreak kills a dozen penguins
Seagull most likely transmitted bacteria to the birds

SAN FRANCISCO - An outbreak of chlamydia at the San Francisco Zoo has left a dozen penguins dead, according to a spokesman.

The bacteria, which was most likely transmitted to the birds by an infected seagull, is spread through airborne saliva or other bodily fluids, said Bob Jenkins, the zoo's director of animal care and conservation. A similar disease is sexually transmitted in humans.

"One quick exposure and you're off and running," Jenkins said, adding that at its height, nearly 80 percent of the zoo's penguin colony was infected. "It required very aggressive treatment on our part."

It's noooo mistake Hitchcock made them the bad guys.

Posted by tree hugging sister at May 6, 2005 03:37 PM

Comments

The seagulls are screwing the penguins? That's disgusting!

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at May 6, 2005 03:50 PM

An STD - Seagull Transmitted Disease.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at May 6, 2005 03:51 PM

Poor little penguins, at the mercy of those scurvy birds.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at May 6, 2005 04:21 PM

I'm sure the Imam would say that they bring it on themselves, dressing up like that.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at May 6, 2005 04:26 PM

Planned Parenthood blamed Focus on the Family for opposing artificial contraception. Chuck Colson blamed liberals. Opus blamed Bill the Cat, and Steve Dallas sued for millions. Donald Trump blamed (and fired) three "Apprentice" contestants. Andrew Sullivan blamed Benedict XVI and Maureen Dowd blamed Halliburton.

(Somebody should write my boss and tell her not to let me have the afternoon off EVER AGIAN.)

Posted by: Nightfly at May 6, 2005 04:45 PM

Forget Hitchcock. Did you see what the bastards did in High Anxiety?

Posted by: Ken Summers at May 6, 2005 04:51 PM

Ken, High Anxiety = one of Mel Brooks's less-remembered works, but sheer copmic genius.

Posted by: Dave J at May 6, 2005 07:33 PM

Indeed it was, Dave. Great movie.

Posted by: Kathy K at May 6, 2005 08:47 PM

coptic?

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at May 6, 2005 08:47 PM

Sheer coptic genius. That's what he said, B.

Posted by: Ken Summers at May 6, 2005 10:51 PM

Oh my gawd, we just watched Finding Nemo and there were seagulls doing this very Birds thing!!!! Arghhhhhhh!! Run away!

(Mine? Mine?)

Posted by: tree hugging sister at May 6, 2005 10:52 PM

And BTW, does anyone know why they're called "sea gulls"? I should think that "County Refuse Disposal Site gulls" is a more appropriate term.

Posted by: Ken Summers at May 6, 2005 10:57 PM

Ha! Sis, you reminded me - I don't remember which, but one later Disney movie had a character (Danny DeVito's voice, IIRC) who said to a statue, "Pardon me, would you have any gray poop on you?"

Posted by: Ken Summers at May 6, 2005 11:00 PM

Hi Ken - that's Hercules, sanitized for our consumption. Reasonably entertaining. I think James Woods was Hades.

Posted by: Nightfly at May 7, 2005 12:34 AM

In the immortal words of Bobcat Goldthwaite: "James Woods plays Satan? What a stretch, huh?"

Posted by: Dave J at May 7, 2005 06:38 PM

Funny you should mention that, Dave. I just saw James Woods today on the "World Series of Poker". I wasn't really watching so I don't know if he won or lost.

I also saw Howard Lederer, son of my idol, the original Cunning Linguist, and Howard's sister Annie.

Funny how Conan the Grammarian has two professional poker players as children. Must be the water in San Diego.

Posted by: Ken Summers at May 7, 2005 08:23 PM

I always thought it bizarre that James Woods sued Sean Young for stalking him.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at May 9, 2005 12:02 AM